Sheath or scabbard.



V. H. JENNINGS.

$HEATH OR SGABBARD.

APPLICATION FILED June, 1911.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Zhvenor- Fig. A Zfla'neasea.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON D. C.

VICTOR I-I. JENNINGS, OF \VORCESTER, h-IASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 liIIZLoVJGVEN' CARTRIDGE BELT COMPANY, OF VJURGESTER, HGLQSSfLGEZU SETTS,

OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEATH OR SOABBARD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR H. JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of lVorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in sheaths or b'cabbards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to sheaths or scabbards, such, for instance, as those which are employed for knives, bayonets, bolos, and various other weapons and implements.

It consists in a sheath or scabbard provided with a tubular fabric-covering which is seamless, or substantially seamless, and without any protruding fin or exposed seam, and fits the body of the sheath or scabbard snugly and smoothly.

As-an example, the invention is shown in the drawings applied in connection with a sheath or scabbard for a sword-bayonet, but it is equally applicable to sheaths or scabbards for other articles.

Figure l of the drawings shows in elevation a sheath or scabbard for aswordbay onet with the invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper end thereof. Fig. 4 is an elevation with the tab omitted, and with a portion. of the seamless covering broken away to show the body of the sheath or scabbard. Fig. 5 shows on a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 1 a portion of one form of covering before application to a sheath or scabbard. Fig. 6 is a view in cross-section in the plane of line 6, 6, of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a top view of the upper end of the said covering. Fig. 8 is a top view of the said end after being expanded.

Having reference to the drawings, the sheath or scabbard shown therein is, as stated above, one for a sword-bayonet, and is of the flattened shape at present in use, and is proportioned to receive within it the length of the blade of such bayonet. The body, 1, of the said sheath or scabbard, partly shown in Fig. at by breaking aw'ay'a portion of the cover, is of wood, rawhide, or the like, as preferred. is a cap or mouthpiece upon the upper end of said body, such cap or mouth-piece being made of metal or other suitable material, and having the entering slot, 2, Fig. 3, in line with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1911.

Patented Aug. 25, 12 11 1. Serial No. 639,635.

blade-receiving space within the body 1. This caper mouth-piece, in consequence of surrounding and inclosing the upper end. portion of the body of the sheath or seal hard, and of being wider and thicker than the said body forms an enlargement at the upper end of the latter.

Heretofore, the material employed as the cover of a sheath or scabbard has been out to pattern from a flat sheet or web, then folded so as to cause its longitudinal margnis to he one upon the other, and stitched lengthwise, through and through such margins, to unite them and thereby close the cover lengthwise in the form of a tube, and having been thus formed into a tube he been drawn upon the body. The pattern has been proportioned properly to cause the upper portion of the cover to accommodate and fit the enlargement just mentioned at the upper end of the sheath or scabbard, and the remaining portions of the cover to fit the portions of the body below such enlargement. This method of making the cover is open to the very grave objection that it produces a prominent projecting fin or ridge along one edge of the sheath or scabbard,

where the n'iargins of the material. have been stitched together. This is unsightly, and the work of making and applying the covering is difiicult. The stitched seam sometimes rips as a result of decay and weakening of the thread employed for the sewing, orof injury to the stitches due to wear or hard usage. My invention, which I will now proceed to explain, eliminates the protruding fin aforesaid, and the exposed seam extending the length of the cover.

In accordance with the invention I make the cover 3 of a sheath or scabbard of a seamless-fabric tube of firm and inextensible weave which fits snugly and smoothly upon the exterior of the body 1. This tub e may be variously fitted and equipped in completing the cover. In Figs. 1, 2 and a the lower end of the cover is trimmed to V-shape, the cut edges being turned in, and the said end is closed by lines of stitches a, 4L, extending along the doubled-in marginal portions. The cover may be caused to adhere to the surface of the body 1 by means of glue or other cementitious substance. At the upper or mouth end of the sheath or scabbard the upper portion of the cover is A. conrona'rion shown as turned in and doubled back within 1 the tube, in the form of a hem 3 Fig. 4:, to give a smooth finish, and conceal and protect the cut edge of the fabric.

. The folded-in upper portion of the seamless tube is entirely at the exterior of the body-portion of the sheath or scabbard and its cap or mouth-piece, and thereby is pro tected from being cut and worn by the blade of the bayonet, hole, or knife. The cap or mouth-piece is furnished with an outwardly projecting horizontal rim or flange, as shown clearly in Fig. l. By folding in the upper portion of the fabric-tube a smooth and uniform end for making close contact with the under face of said rim or flange isv provided. The rim or flange overhangs and protects the said upper end of the fabrictube from wear and injury. The seamless fabric-tube is produced by weaving in continuous length a tubular web having in each portion thereof corresponding with the required length for a sheath or scabbard an integral widening to accommodate the enlargement atthe upper end of the sheath or scabbard. This web is cut up into the required lengths. Figs. 5, 7 and 8 show a length of woven tube which is produced with an integral widening formed in the weaving by weaving a portion thereof with a I longitudinal tuck or plait 3 This widening is produced in the weaving by providing a number of 'warpthreads in excess of those required for the weaving of the tubular portion of less diameter, and floating the same during the weaving' of such portion, and when weaving the widened portion of the fabric bringing such additional warp-threads into action. Tn weaving the widened portion of the fabric the operations are so conducted as to form three superimposed plies joined together laterally as indicated in Fig. 7, producing thereby a longitudinal tuck or plait in the fabric. The cross-section of the main portion of the tube is represented in Fig. 6. As shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8 the said tuck or plait projects into the interior of the tube. This tuck or plait will straighten out when the tube is strained transversely, thereby permitting the portion of the tube containing the trick or plait to expand transversely in the manner represented in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows it partly straightened out and the tube considerably enlarged. In preparing the tube to serve as a cover, the said portion containing the tuck or plait is thus expanded to the extent required to fit the enlargement of the mouth end of the sheath or scabbard. In being thus expanded, the tuck or plait assumes more or less approximately the shape indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 The expanded mouth-end of the cover is secured in the shape which has thus been given to it, as by a line of stitches 81* engaging the overlapping layers of the tuck or plait and the exterior of the tube. ,When the cover thus prepared is pulled upon the body 1, the expanded mouth end of the cover receives and fits the enlargement of the mouthend of the said body. A widening produced in the manner indicated has the special advantage that the fabric of the tube has everywhere the same number of warpthreads and weft-threads to the square inch. No dilference in character or closeness of texture is apparent at or adjacent the widening. v

The integral widening of the cover-fabric ,iroduced by the increased number of warpthreads gives the extra material required to completely inclose the enlarged mouthend of the sheathor scabbard. Being at the interior of the tubes, the tuck or plait 3 is nclosed and concealed- The excess thereof may be cut away, i desired, after the stitches 31 have been formed.

The place of the widening, at which the overlap and securing stitches occur, is located at one side of the sheath or scabbard, as indicated in Fig. 4, and the supporting tab 5, Figs. 1', 2 and 3, is applied and secured over the same. Thereby the said overlap and stitches are concealed and protected. The seamless fabric coveringtube may beotherwise produced, applied and finished.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sheath or scabbard, the combination with the body thereof having an enlarged external diameter at and below the mouth-end thereof, of a covering consistwoven tube of firm and. inextensible fabric inclosing said bodyand fitting the exterior thereof, said tube having a section of its length woven of a diameter of a greater fixed limit and adjustable to fit the enlargement of the exteior of the body, said section of uniform closeness of weave with the remainder of the tube.

2. In a sheath or seabbard, the combination withthe body thereof having an enlarged external diameter at and below its mouth-end, of a covering consistin of a seamless-fabric tube inclosing said bo dy and fitting the exterior thereof, said tube woven with a longitudinal tuck or plait produced by additionalthreads forming an integral widening which adjustably fits the enlargement of the body.

3. In a sheath or scabbard, the combination with the body thereof having anlenlarged external diameter at and below its mouth-end. of a covering consisting of a seamless-fabric tube inclosing said body and fitting the exterior thereof, said tube formed with an integral widening located at one broad side ofthe sheath or Scabbard which enables the mouth-end thereof to fit the enlargement of the body, fastenings securing" of a seamless ring the widened portion of the length of the tube in expanded shape, and a supportingtab applied to the said side and covering the widening and the said fastenings.

at. A sheath or Scabbard having a cap or mouth-piece provided with an outwardlyprojecting radial rim or flange, and a covering consisting of a seamless-fabric tube inclosing the body of the sheath or scabbard and the body-porti0n of said cap or u'iouth-piece, snugly and smoothly fitting the exterior thereof, with its upper end-portion folded back and inward upon itself at the exterior of said body portionof the cap or mouth-piece, and With the fold abutting against the said projecting rim or flange and protected by the overhang of the rim Or flange.

5. The combination With a sheath or scabbard having an enlarged external diameter at and below the mouth-end thereof and an outwardly-projecting rim Or flange at such end, of a covering consisting of a seamlessfabric tube snugly and smoothly fitting the cxteriorof the sheath or Scabbard, with its upper portion woven of increased diameter, to lit the enlarged portion of the length of the sheath or Scabbard, and having such portion folded inwardly back upon itself at the outer surface of the sheath or Scabbard and with the fold abutting against the said projecting rim or flange and protected by the overhang of the rim or flange.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VICTOR H. JENNINGS.

lVitnesses: I

FRANK R. BATCI-IELDER, ,ROSA F. WVoonooon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

